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A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
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Terpene hydroxylation with microbial cytochrome P450 monooxygenases
Simon Janocha1, Daniela Schmitz, Rita Bernhardt
1Department of Biochemistry, Saarland University, Campus B2 2, 66123, Saarbruecken, Germany.
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
|February 16, 2015
Summary
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are crucial for modifying terpenoids, offering unique oxidation capabilities. Protein engineering enhances microbial P450s for efficient terpenoid biotransformation, presenting a green alternative to chemical synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Enzymology
Background:
- Terpenoids are a diverse class of natural products with varied functional groups determining their properties.
- Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s, CYPs) catalyze essential oxidations, including the functionalization of terpenoids, by introducing oxygen into C-H bonds.
- Microbial P450s are valuable biocatalysts for modifying industrially relevant terpenoids, offering an alternative to chemical synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review bacterial P450-catalyzed terpenoid hydroxylation reactions.
- To highlight advancements in protein engineering of P450s for improved selectivity and activity.
- To discuss the development of efficient biotransformation processes for terpenoid modification.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of P450s from microbial sources for terpenoid biotransformation.
- Application of protein engineering techniques, including site-directed mutagenesis and directed evolution.
- Optimization of P450-redox partner interactions through mutagenesis.
Main Results:
- Engineered microbial P450s demonstrate high selectivity and activity in converting various terpenoids (e.g., ionones, limonene, valencene, steroids).
- Mutagenesis strategies have successfully improved P450 performance and their interaction with electron transfer proteins.
- Bacterial P450s have been successfully engineered for productive hydroxylation processes.
Conclusions:
- Protein engineering significantly enhances the utility of microbial P450s for terpenoid modification.
- Engineered P450s provide sustainable and efficient biocatalytic routes for producing valuable terpenoid derivatives.
- Further development of P450s holds promise for biotechnological applications in natural product synthesis.
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